President Declares Major Disaster for Alabama
Release Date: August 29, 2005
Release Number: HQ-05-182
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal disaster aid has been made available to the state of Mississippi to help residents and communities recover from the damages and losses incurred from the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina.
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Bush. The declaration covers damage to private and public property from Hurricane Katrina that occurred beginning August 29, 2005 and continuing.
The action follows the President's emergency declaration of August 27 that released federal resources to help meet immediate life-saving and life-sustaining human needs and protecting property in addition to other emergency protective measures. Debris removal and emergency services to assist law enforcement with evacuations and establishment of shelters are also eligible costs covered by the federal funding.
Affected individuals and business owners in Baldwin, Mobile, and Washington counties are eligible for aid.
The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organization on a cost-sharing basis in the counties of Baldwin, Clarke, Choctaw, Mobile, Sumter, and Washington for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance.
For a period of up to 72 hours, federal funding is available at 100 percent of the total eligible costs for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance. The 72-hour period funding at 100 percent excludes debris removal.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Brown indicated that additional designations may be made later if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Ron Sherman of FEMA was named by Brown to coordinate federal recovery operations. Sherman said that affected residents and business owners in the designated Counties can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 24 hours, seven days a week, until further notice.
Registering on-line is encouraged due to the possibility of high call volume. If registering by phone, owners of commercial properties and residents with only minor losses are urged to wait a few days before calling so those whose homes were destroyed or heavily damaged can be served first. Storm victims with insurance coverage should contact their insurance company or agent before calling to report losses and, if necessary, to request an advance or partial payment of their settlement.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Thursday, 01-Sep-2005 09:18:50